19-493: Siachen Base Camp , 12,000 feet above sea level at Partapur, is a base camp of 102 Infantry Brigade (Siachen brigade) of XIV Corps of Indian Army which protects 110 km long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) with at least 108 forward military outposts and artillery observation posts in the disputed region of Siachen Glacier in Ladakh Union Territory of India . It is approximately 6 hours drive north from
38-496: A 30-day trek organised by Army Adventure Cell in August–September, during which tourists go through the highly altitude conditioning at Leh Base, Siachen Base and forward staging posts, at the end of which they undertake a 9-day return trek from Siachen Base to Kumar Base 60 km away. Military camp A military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent military base , for the lodging of an army . Camps are erected when
57-552: A few leaders, or large armies with many nobles and knights, such as those of the Crusades . Leaguer and harbour are British terms for military camps; 'harbour' for temporary camps. The name, coming from 16th Century Dutch leger , was used for a military camp, particularly one laying siege . During World War II leaguer was used in the Western Desert campaign particularly for camps of armoured formations. The arrangement of
76-574: A military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations , and often have the form of large campsites . In the British Army , Commonwealth armies, the United States Marine Corps , and other military forces, permanent military bases are also called camps, including Tidworth Camp , Blandford Camp , Bulford Camp , and Devil's Tower Camp of the British Army ; and Camp Lejeune and Camp Geiger of
95-463: A minimum of 2–4 helicopter trips are required. Each helicopter trip cost ₹ 35,000 (year 2012). For example, it took 20 days and 200 helicopter trips for the assault team to gather at Bilafond La for the Operation Rajiv in 1987. For every soldier on the combat post, 20 soldiers are needed at the base for replacement training, logistics and support. Until 2013, 26 decorations have been awarded to
114-483: Is also a launchpad for deployment of the acclimatised troops who are usually deployed on a 2 to 3 month stint on the forward post. The base has helipads, a memorial for martyrs, medical unit etc and it is connected by a motorable road. 12 Wing of Chandigarh AFSB of Indian Air Force (IAF) provides helicopter support to the forward posts for the logistics supplies and casualty evacuation by helicopter from air bases at Leh, Thoise and Srinagar, which in turn are supplied by
133-476: Is between minus 25 °C during day and minus 55 °C during the night. Siachen Base Camp , which serves the northern and middle Siachen sectors, is one of the 2 bases for the Siachen region, and other base being just west of Thoise Air Base which serves the southern Siachen sector. Siachen Base Camp has Siachen Battle School for pre-induction training, orientation and acclimatisation for fresh troops and it
152-749: The Rhineland carnival tradition [ de ] , "bivouac" refers to an open-air carnival, usually organized by a carnival society . A well-known example is the "Funkenbiwak" organized by the Rote Funken [ de ] carnival society, which takes place on the Neumarkt square [ de ] in Cologne. Bilafond La Bilafond La (meaning "Pass of the Butterflies" in Balti language , also known as
171-579: The Saltoro Pass , is a mountain pass situated on Saltoro Ridge , sitting immediately west of the vast Siachen Glacier , some 40 km (25 mi) directly north of map point NJ 980420 which defined the end of the 1972 Line of Control between Pakistan and India as part of the Simla Agreement . Bilafond La is on the ancient Silk Route linking the Indian Subcontinent and China. Bilafond La
190-457: The United States Marine Corps . Historically, army camps referred to large field camps of military troops that could include several thousand people. In the Middle Ages , camp followers (i.e. wives , prostitutes , sutlers , laundresses , craftsmen , blacksmiths , squires , etc.) were also integrated into the camps. The composition varied, depending on whether it was a mercenary army with
209-599: The Indian soldiers in this sectors, including 1 Paramvir Chakra (PVC), 5 Mahavir Chakra and 20 Vir Chakra to 11 officers and 15 OR of which 9 are posthumous. Additionally, many more Kirti Chakra , Shaurya Chakra , Sena Medal and Vayu Sena Medal have been awarded in this sectors. Colonel Narendra Bull Kumar took expeditions to the Siachen area in 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1984 to scale Sia Kangri (24,350 feet) and Indira Col and Saltoro Kangri -I (25,400 feet), and skied to Bilafond La , Sia La and Turkistan La . This area
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#1733092366586228-497: The battalion head quarter located 60 km from the Siachen base towards Indira Col. The Siachen Brigade consists of five to eight battalions of Ladakh Scouts supported by artillery, air defence, engineer and other logistic units. Pakistan has not been able to scale the crest of the Saltoro Range occupied by India. The temperature goes down to minus 86 °C during winters with icy 300 kmph blizzards . The average temperature
247-570: The large transport planes such as C-17 and C-130 . Each post has an artillery officer who are deployed in the rotation of 45 days. India has significant tactical advantage as it occupies most of the higher peaks on the Saltoro Mountain Range in the western sector of Siachen and Pakistan Army hold posts only at lower heights of western slopes of the spurs of the Saltoro ridge. For the military operation, to ferry two people and their supplies,
266-432: The leaguer depended on purpose and whether day or night. By day dispersed for protection against air attack with elements of the formation able to cover each other, at night ("close leaguer") the tank regiment forming a square or triangle, the tanks facing out with the support vehicles drawn up in the middle (but moving out of the leaguer and to the rear just before dawn). The term "bivouac" also has non-military uses. In
285-495: The potential for tourism, the government is making ongoing efforts to improve connectivity. There is a recurring planned annual civilian expedition from Siachen Base Camp to Indira Ridge, Indira Col and other features. India has opened up the entire area from Siachen Base Camp at 12,000 ft to Kumar Post at 15,000 ft for the regular tourism for the civilians. Bana Post at 20,500 ft will remain off limit to tourists. Temperatures drop to below minus 60 degrees celsius during
304-489: The town of Leh via one of the highest vehicle-accessible passes in the world , Khardung La at 17,582 feet. Bana Top (20,500 ft) is the highest post in the region, which requires 80 km and 20 day trek for troops. Pahalwan Post (about 20,000 ft) and posts near Indira Col (about 19,000 ft) are other high posts. Kumar Post or Kumar Base , named after the Colonel Narendra "Bull" Kumar , serves as
323-664: The winter. Until 2010, civilian tourists were permitted only in the Nubra Valley up to Panamik . Since 2010 tourist have been permitted in the Shyok Valley up to Turtuk and beyond to Tyakshi near the LOC and further to Thang ; these three villages and Chulunkha were captured from Pakistan by India in Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 . From 2019, medically fit civilians below the age of 45 are allowed up to Kumar Base (15,000 ft) on
342-516: Was a prominent feature during the 1984 start of military action in the Siachen Conflict between India and Pakistan. The Indian Army captured the pass in 1984 along with Sia La to the north and, in 1987, Gyong La to the south. India currently maintains a fortified military base at Bilafond La. Bilafond Pass, as well as nearby passes Sia La and Gyong La , were scenes of military activity starting in 1984 during Operation Meghdoot , part of
361-611: Was captured by India in 1984 in Operation Meghdoot to preempt Pakistan's Operation Ababeel. In 1987, Operation Rajiv was launched to successfully capture Quaid Post from Pakistan which was renamed to Bana Post by India. The Quaid Post was manned by soldiers of the Shaheen Company (3rd commando battalion), a part of Pakistan's Special Services Group . It was commanded by Subedar Ataullah Mohammed. India allows several tourist and civilian activities in Siachen area. To exploit
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